Panaji, Jun 19 (IANS): Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday said that he was going to join the armed forces, but joined politics after a meeting with socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia.

A chance meeting with Lohia at Parliament, Malik said, led to his change in his decision to change careers.

"I was going to join the army, but I happened to visit Parliament with my teachers. I saw Lohia in the House. I used to read him. He would inspire me a lot. After the Parliament session we met. He put his hand on my shoulder and asked me what I wanted to become," Malik said at a media function at Raj Bhavan.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Governor said, that he told Lohia that he wanted to join the army, but the Parliamentarian's words made him switch his decision.

"He said the country needs good youngsters. Join politics full time. At that time itself I joined politics," Malik said on Thursday, which is incidentally Goa Revolution Day.

Goa celebrates June 18 as a Revolution Day to mark the anniversary of a speech by freedom fighter and socialist leader Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia in south Goa's Margao town, urging revolution against the colonial Portuguese in 1946.